Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that a Medical University would be established in the State soon for effective management of all the six medical colleges of the state. He said about 1000 vacant posts of nurses would be filled up on priority to strengthen health services in the state. He was addressing the gathering on the occasion of the International Nursing Day function organized by the Trained Nurses Association of India, Himachal Chapter at IGMC here today.The Chief Minister said that Florence Nightingale was a symbol of love, care and selfless service and inspiration for not only nursing profession but also the whole humanity. He said the profession of nursing was in fact indebted to the life of Florence Nightingale, as she not only pioneered the profession, but also made nursing profession recognized universally.He said that nurses work with compassion and care for the speedy recovery of the patients who expect a humane behavior and conduct from the doctors and other paramedical staff. He said that our behavior should be in such a way that it helps in fast recovery of patients.
The Chief Minister said the state government during last four months had taken several initiatives in the health sector. The posts of 262 doctors were filled and process was on to fill over 200 more posts of doctors and 2000 paramedical staff for strengthening the health institutions. He said that efforts would be made to make Himachal Pradesh as number one state in health indicators in the country. He said that the previous state government announced opening of 16 degree colleges in the state by making a provision of Rs 1 lakh for each degree college. Several health institutions were opened in the state during the fag end of its tenure without making budget provisions and provision of staff.While expressing concern over the increasing cases of drug abuse, the Chief Minister said it become duty of each one of us to work collectively for the making the society drug-free. The parents should keep check on the activities of their children. He said increasing influence of western culture on our society, particularly on youth was a biggest challenge. The state government was committed to curb this social menace and urged the medial professionals to provide proper counseling to affected youth.
Chief Minister announced that 13 month salary being given to the nurses would be given as per the new entanced basic pay and grad pay instead of earlier salary and pay band.He also announced to enhance daily diet allowance of nurses from Rs 6 to Rs 25.Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar said that the state health sector was being strengthened under the leadership of Chief Minister and Himachal was forging ahead under his leadership. He said the Chief Minister had been ensuring welfare of the employees and provided them financial benefits worth crores of rupees. Himachal Pradesh was the frontrunner state of the country in health indicators and several new schemes had been announced in the budget for health sector. Principal, IGMC Dr Ravi Sharma said that the nursing profession was an integral part of medical profession and one cannot even think of medical services without nurses.
Senior Medical Superintendent Dr Janak Raj said the nursing profession was one of the most pious and noble profession and backbone in providing better health service to the suffering humanity.Additional Director-cum-Registrar HPRNC Kaushalya Chaudhary said that 2000 nurses were passing out every year from different institutes in the State. She urged the Chief Minister to fill up all the functional posts of different nursing for better health services to the people of the State.President, Trained Nurses Association Jyoti Walia detailed various demands of the Association. She said that profession of nursing was a opportunity to serve the suffering humanity.Santosh Manta, Lecturer, Sister Nivedita Government Nursing College, IGMC said theme of this year's Nurses Day was 'Nurses: A voice to lead- Health is a human right'. She said that the role of nurses was pivotal in providing best health care facilities to the patients.A documentary on Florence Nightingale was also shown on the occasion.Additional Director Health Services Sumit Khimta, Principal Government Dental College Dr R.P Luthra, OSD to the Chief Minister Mahender Dharmani, Principal Sister Nivedita Nursing College Usha Mehta were also present on the occasion among others.